Only 18 hours after breaking records at the plate, the Dodgers star took the mound for Game 4. That night, Shohei Ohtani gave up more than three runs for the first time since August and went hitless as the Dodgers fell 6-2 to the Blue Jays, evening the series at two games each. Game 4 was Ohtani’s first World Series start, but he took the loss. Still, there’s a real chance he could return later in the series.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday that Shohei Ohtani would be available in relief in Game 6 or Game 7. Of course, only if he feels capable of it.

The two-way star told Japanese media that he has already started preparing for a potential relief appearance in Toronto. Ohtani’s recovery from elbow surgery was carefully managed, with steady velocity and clean mechanics throughout the season.

For the record, he gave up four runs over six-plus innings on Tuesday night. It was just a night after reaching base a record-tying nine times in the 18-inning marathon.

“There could be games like yesterday’s that go into extra innings and don’t get decided for a while, so I want to stay prepared to pitch at any time.” He said Tuesday night, showing how far he’s willing to go for the team.

Earlier this year, the Dodgers had tossed around the idea of Ohtani pitching out of the bullpen during the postseason. But ultimately, they wanted him to stay locked in as part of the four-man rotation while also leading off at the plate every night.

The World Series is now set to be decided in Toronto. With only a few games left, the Dodgers know Shohei Ohtani won’t start again.

Yet, if required, he’d take over the mound one more time in the late-inning meltdown if the situation called for it. But let’s also not forget that his two-way brilliance comes with a few unique considerations.

How does Shohei Ohtani’s two-way rule work differently for starters and relievers?

Throughout the regular season, it was often noted that the two-way player rule applies differently to starters and relievers. If Ohtani starts as a pitcher, he can remain as a DH after pitching. But if he starts as DH and later pitches, the Dodgers lose the DH spot once he’s done.

The Dodgers pitcher hasn’t pitched in relief in the majors, but he famously closed out Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic win over Team USA by striking out Mike Trout.

It’s quite common for starters to pitch in relief during the postseason between their usual outings. Those appearances, however, usually line up with their throw day. Likely two days after a start, when they’d normally get some side work in. For Ohtani, that means he’s likely out for Game 5 but could be available after that.

It’s worth noting that the Dodgers brought Shohei Ohtani back to pitching gradually this summer. They clearly aimed to preserve his strength for the stretch and postseason.

After missing all of the 2024 campaign on the mound due to elbow surgery, he didn’t throw more than 80 pitches in any of his first eight starts. That careful planning might soon pay off.

The Dodgers are chasing MLB’s first back-to-back World Series title since the Yankees’ run from 1998 to 2000. That’s probably why the Dodgers have extra motivation to use Shohei Ohtani out of the bullpen. The series is tied 2-2 with the Blue Jays, and game 5 will tell the rest for now.